Frequently Asked Questions about Hair Transplant

Are there any reasons I could be unsuitable for hair transplant?

Yes, a small number of patients may not qualify for either medical reasons or higher than normal expectations. To address these issues, we have invented the world’s most sophisticated diagnostic system, including:

-Alopecia Tests: these are a series of coordinated tests that examine the scalp and skin very closely, followed by accurate measurements of the available number of hairs for transplant. Cutting edge mathematical modeling is used to ensure a homogenous and natural result. -DNA Analysis: a one of a kind test, each patient’s DNA can be tested to understand the cause of the hair loss at the smallest, molecular level. -Stress Tests: these are a series of trademarked biological tests that measure the level of oxidative stress impacting each patient’s hair. An effective and unique treatment plan, including nutrition and lifestyle advice, can then be developed for each patient to ensure that their hair has the best potential to grow and flourish.

Strict contraindications for hair restoration are:

Diffusing alopecia. Hair loss can be either genetic or due to a local scalp skin problem or a general health problem, which can include metabolic, nutritional or hormonal problems. If hair loss is very diffuse then it may not be possible to undergo a DHI treatment.

Extended active inflammation on the scalp (dermatitis) which can also be caused by certain bacteria or fungi.

Under treatment with certain medications called “cytostatic drugs”

Certain types of hair loss associated with the immune system (alopecia totalis or universalis)

Relative contraindications for the DHI hair restoration are:

Donor area has more than 15% of its hairs in “telogen,” a state whereby the hair follicle is weaker

Donor area is of low density at 70 hairs/cm2 or less

Keloid scar formation

Alopecia Areata, an immune type of hair loss, is in progress without stabilization

Patients who wear wigs on a regular basis to cover their extended hair loss, as their expectations may not be met

A skin condition called lichen, which can impede hair growth

Psoriasis

Systematic medication that provokes hair loss as a side effect

What are the risks involved in performing treatment at a DHI clinic?

There are almost no risks. The reason for this is that DHI clinics have extremely strict worldwide medical protocols and safeguards in place to ensure the safest treatment possible for all our patients. With over 200,000 procedures performed worldwide, our quality control system (SOPS) is unique in the hair restoration industry.

In addition, all our Doctors and Nurses are highly trained and experienced before they even reach the treatment room. This is because DHI is the only Hair Restoration company in the world with their own Training Academy and Diploma and the only method taught at a public European University.

What precautions should be taken prior the hair transplant procedure?

No specific precautions should be taken prior the DHI hair transplant procedure. However it is advised that patients will not take blood thinners at least 7 days prior to the procedure, in order to avoid prolonged bleeding during implantation.

Is the donor hair implanted in a natural way to match the original direction of my hair?

DHI invented Direct Hair Implantation precisely to target this problem. Using the DHI technique every hair follicle is directly implanted without previous incisions or the use of forceps. The DHI implanter perfectly controls the depth and direction, providing a 100% natural result.

How does DHI ensure good results?

There are many factors that drive good results. These include:

The Direct Hair Implantation technique itself

Highly skilled and experienced medical teams, who have extensive training in the art of hairline design

DHI Training Academy: all our Doctors and Nurses have the pass the rigorous training and certification process of the DHI training program

Our 48 years of experience

Quality assurance through ISO certification

First class medical protocols

University training and research programs

Our graft preservation technique

Our innovations

Our passion for perfection

No scarring

100% natural result

High growth rates – boasting above 95%

Our patented implanter tool.

What is the cost to undertake a DHI procedure?

DHI has now introduced a 360 Holistic Medical Hair Care model. The tenants of this strategy are: Diagnosis, Prevention, and Restoration. No drugs or invasive surgery are ever utilized.

The costs start at €350 for preventive treatments and at €3000 for Direct Hair Implantation.

Is it possible for me to get a free consultation?

The initial DHI consultation is always free of charge. For the cost of our innovative diagnostic system that includes DNA analysis and protein tests, please seek advice from your nearest DHI clinic.

What’s the difference between DHI and FUE?

The main difference between Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) and other methods of hair transplant is the quality of results the DHI technique offers, as well as several advantages over traditional FUE. By definition, FUE means Follicular Unit Extraction and hence, placement of the hair follicle is not given as much importance as the extraction process. Most often, forceps are used for placement after many slits/cuts are made in the recipient area. This can lead to uneven healing, scars, and an unnatural result. In contrast, DHI uses the patented DHI Implanter to precisely control the angle, depth and direction of the implanted follicle without making any cuts. This creates a totally natural hairline, free from the pitting and discoloration that is often associated with FUE and other traditional methods of hair restoration.

Another important element is the quality of standardization and evidence-based protocols developed and strictly adhered to at the DHI training Academy. DHI is a state-of-the-art process in and of itself, and is the only method taught at major European Universities.

Is DHI a painless technique?

The procedure is minimum painless and causes less irritation than say getting a tattoo. The procedure is done under local anesthesia and the client can relax, listen to music, watch TV, enjoy a light lunch and even nap during the procedure.

During hair restoration is it possible to interact with the medical team?

DHI is the first hair restoration clinic which targets the patient’s education on hair restoration through our Patient Participation Program (P.P.P.).

With this unique program, the DHI medical team respects the patient’s expectations and their willingness to express their needs and thoughts. Patients who participate in our quality control evaluation systems find it enlightening, giving them full transparency into the process via our highly trained medical teams.

How long does the procedure take?

The Direct Hair Implantation procedure’s duration is dependent on the extent of the patient’s hair loss. A client with a small amount of hair loss may only require a small session lasting around 3-4 hours, whereas an individual with extensive hair loss may require a 2-day procedure, each day lasting around 6 hours.

Are there any long-term complications of local anesthesia administered before implantation?

No, only localized area of paresthesia can occur which eventually subsides.

Why does the effect of anesthesia wear off faster while working on the hairline?

Trigeminal nerves are thick major nerves, and the bigger the nerve the lesser the duration of anesthesia. It can be prolonged by nerve blocks or giving superficial intradermal injection.

What anesthesia technique is used for body hair?

Local anesthesia, ring block, and/or nerve block are given in case of body hair.

Is there any way to prolong the effect of anesthesia?

Use of supraorbital and supratrochlear blocks is a way of prolonging the effect of local anesthesia. Use of Bupivacaine in a low diluted dose also prolongs the effect.

Is the procedure carried out under a sterile environment?

DHI hair transplant is performed under a completely safe and sterile environment. The procedure room is sterilized with Basilol and all the equipment and tools used are sterilized before the session. Also, strict protocols are applied to all processes and at all levels to guarantee 100% safety.

What instruments are being used during the hair transplant session?

DHI uses single-use disposable punches and needles for every session. These instruments are destroyed after every procedure in front of the patient according to the DHI protocols. Hair follicles are extracted one by one from the donor area using a specifically designed disposable tool with the diameter of 1mm or less.

How frequently should punches be changed?

It can be highly variable. It is advisable to change the punch if too much resistance is encountered.

What will be the size of the instruments used for extraction?

The size of the instruments used for extraction depends on the quality of hair and scalp and may vary between 0.7 mm to 1.00 mm.

Will there be bleeding during the DHI session?

In DHI there is very minimal bleeding when compared with “FUT” or “Strip” surgery.

What is the donor area or safe donor area?

A line drawn perpendicularly from the external auditory canal should define the anterior border of the “safe” area. The superior border – safe donor area begins on the anterior border where it is 6.5 – 7.0 cm wide and steadily narrows as one moves posteriorly. In the midline of the occipital area, the ultimate donor area is substantially narrower than it is superior to the external ear.

What is the maximum permissible duration of extraction?

Maximum permissible duration of extraction should not be more than 4 hours.

Does the time gap between extraction and implantation affect the survivability of grafts and the final outcome?

Yes, a gap of more than 6 hours will hamper the survival of grafts. Also the storage temperature can affect it further. The optimum temperature for storing the graft is 4 degrees Celsius.

Does the hair graft ratio impact the final outcome?

Yes, a ratio less than 1.6 may not yield good results but individual variation occurs.

How frequently should the ice packs be changed during the procedure?

Too frequent a change of ice packs may lead to frequent fluctuations of temperature. Focus should be on maintaining 0- 4 degrees Celsius.

How is implantation done?

Implantation is done with the help of DHI Implanters of varied needle sizes. The hair grafts are loaded in the implanter device and placed directly on the scalp, in the recipient area. The DHI implanter permits the proper placement of all hair grafts at specific angles and the correct depth.

How is the patient positioned during implantation?

The position during implantation is lying down supine with an inclined head to the side or sitting position.

At what depth do you implant the grafts?

The grafts are implanted approximately 4 to 5 mm deep.

What is the angle of implantation?

The angle depends on the direction of existing follicles and it also varies from a very acute angle (15 degrees) on the hairline to 20-30 degrees on zone A & B to 50 degrees on zone C.

What kind of follow up will I need?

Standard follow up meetings take place as follows:

2 months after a DHI session – this is where we can usually advise the patient to a change of hair shampoo. This is a great opportunity to evaluate the healing process and examine the beginning of new hair growth.

6 months after a DHI session – This is where we usually evaluate new hair growth. Now, our consultants may suggest preservative hair loss treatments and further diagnosis such as a DNA test.

Please do note: Final hair growth can take up to 18 months after the session, since there might be certain skin conditions that can delay the process

How many days after the procedure can I cut or dye my hair?

The patient can get a haircut done 15 days after the DHI hair transplant. Hair dying should take place not earlier than 45 days after the session.

Will the implanted hair stay throughout my life?

As 10% of your hair naturally falls in a life span, the same amount of implanted hairs will also fall. The rest of the implanted hair will stay for a lifetime because these hairs are resistant to the hair loss-causing hormones.

Are there any common hair transplant postoperative complications?

There are no complications as such but some patients may experience mild headache, swelling, itching or tenderness over the operating area after hair transplant. In those minor cases, the doctor prescribes the necessary medicines.

Are there any medications prescribed post DHI hair transplant session?

The patient is prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatory course which needs to be followed for three days after the DHI hair transplant session. In some causes we might suggest painkillers or cortizone.

Do I need to be on any long-term medication to prevent transplanted hair from falling?

There’s no requirement of any long-term medication after the DHI hair transplant session, as the implanted hair will not fall. However the medical team might suggest PRP or minoxidil applications as a preservative treatment to prevent thinning and falling of the existing hair.

Will the hair extracted from the donor re-grow?

Since we extract the follicles (roots) there is no re-growth, but it has been noticed that about 5% -10% of hair regrows in some cases as a part of the root is sometimes left behind.

Will the hair transplant have an adverse effect on the existing hair surrounding the transplanted area?

No. With the DHI hair transplant technique, a minimum distance is maintained between 2 transplanted hairs and also between the transplanted and existing hairs. This ensures that surrounding hair follicles are not harmed due to “shock loss.”

Will there be any scarring in the donor area after the session?

There is absolutely no scarring with the DHI technique, only a mild redness in the donor area that will subside after a week post session.

Can I wear a hat or something else on my scalp after the procedure?

At the clinic you may purchase a special designed hat that you can wear immediately after the procedure. You can wear any hat 4 days after the procedure.

Will the body hair transplant lead to natural and satisfactory results?

Body hairs are utilized to maximize density, texture and growth patterns are almost identical to scalp hair implantation. However body hair does not grow to the same length as scalp hair.